Bilal's classical training at the Mannes Music Conservatory in New York was instrumental to his conversance with Jazz, voice, and big band arrangements. It has also been reported that he is capable of performing opera in seven languages and writes both music and lyrics.
In 1995, Bilal encountered Faulu Mtume, and his brother, Damu Mtume (sons to James Mtume and founders of Moyo Entertainment) at a barber's shop in Philadelphia. His plans to produce film scores was shelved after he handed the brothers a demo recording; they were so impressed that they successfully convinced him to record commercially.
Bilal has also frequently collaborated and performed with several neo-soul and alternative hip hop artists, including Common, Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli, and The Roots. He also covered Radiohead's "High & Dry" for the 2006 Radiohead tribute, Exit Music: Songs With Radio Heads. Bilal appears in Dave Chappelle's Block Party.
His sophomore full-length recording, Love for Sale is rumored to have been shelved after being leaked on the internet. Despite no official release as of yet, Love for Sale has become an underground classic.
In 2010, Bilal released his sophomore album, Airtight's Revenge, 9 years after his debut album. The album was well-received, critics praised his lyrical substance and experimental sound.
Bilal is set to release his 3rd album, A Love Surreal, on February 26, 2013. Bilal explains that the album has a warmer, more acoustic sound compared to his previous works. He released a mixtape leading up to the release in late 2012 called Retrospective of the Man Called Bilal. 6 days after the mixtape was released, he took the wraps off his first single for A Love Surreal, "Back To Love". A video was released the next month. So far, reviews for A Love Surreal are positive, praising Bilal's natural singing talent and lyrics.
Sometimes
Bilal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes
Sometimes, I wish I wasn't me
Sometimes, I wish I was drug free
Sometimes, wish I saw the exit sign first
Sometimes, wish I knew the truth without search
Sometimes, I wish I could go where I never been
Or walk before I could crawl
Sometimes, I wish my eyes wasn't so red
Sometimes, I wish I had breakfast in bed
Sometimes, I mean it's worth it
Since I did all the work last night
Sometimes, you ain't good to me, yes
I am good to you
And you don't see my attention the way that I do
Sometimes, hey slim, you should be nicer than you are
Sometimes, you take that complaining shit way too far
I mean, I thought it was cute in the beginning but now
I think you only do it 'cause you know I hate it
Sometimes, you got me wishing I didn't have home training
Sometimes, then it wouldn't hurt me so bad
With dreams of knocking you in your head
Then it wouldn't hurt me so bad
With our kitchen knife put up your ass
Sometimes, wish I knew life with no pain, yeah
Wish I held the keys to this game
Sometimes, I pretend 'cause I'm afraid to be, afriad to be
Sometimes, I hope I live to see twenty five
Sometimes, I wish I could be like Moses
Round up my people, move out the ghetto
And live a better life
Sometimes, I wish I didn't try so hard
Sometimes, who knows truth any way
They don't know nothing, who needs that approval
The sun in your hands player
Move at your own pace, listen to your own mind
Do your own thing, yeah yeah
I'm saying it because I love ya
And I want to grow with you, yeah yeah
But you want to run in the other direction
So I got to stay on my path until I win
I win, I win, I win
I want to win, I want to win, I want to win, I want to win
Oh sometimes, sing it with me I wish
(I wish in love) And I wish, oh I wish
(I wish in peace) Oh sometimes
(I wish in hope) I wish hope
(I wish true) I wish true
(I wish clearly) Hey I wish so clearly sometimes
(Wish with no fear) I wish with no fear
(I have no fear) I have no fear
(Have no doubt) I have no doubt
(I don't doubt) I don't doubt
(Have no doubt) No, I don't doubt
(Have no doubt, I wish love)
I wish love, hey hey
Bilal's song "Sometimes" is a reflection of his personal struggles and desires. The lyrics express his longing for a life without pain or the need for drugs. Sometimes, he wishes he could go back and change the past or see the truth without searching. The song is an emotional journey that delves into the artist's deepest feelings.
The song is filled with contradictions, such as his desire to be drug-free but also mentioning his eyes being red. He also wishes sometimes that he didn't try so hard or care so much about what other people think. He hopes to live a long life and to be like Moses, leading his people out of the ghetto and into a better life.
The chorus of the song has a hopeful quality to it, urging the listener to embrace their individuality and move at their own pace. Bilal is saying that he loves them and wants to grow with them, but ultimately, they must choose their own path in life.
Overall, "Sometimes" is a deeply personal and introspective song that speaks to the human condition of longing for something better, while at the same time struggling to accept and thrive in the present.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes, I wish I wasn't me
At times, I regret being myself
Sometimes, I wish I was drug free
Occasionally, I wish I never had to use drugs to escape my troubles
Sometimes, wish I saw the exit sign first
There are moments when I wish I had seen the sign to exit before entering a bad situation
Sometimes, wish I knew the truth without search
There are instances when I wish I knew the truth without having to search for it
Sometimes, I wish I could go where I never been
I sometimes desire to explore and experience things I have never done before
See what I never saw, do what I never did
I am curious to witness and participate in things I've never seen or done
Or walk before I could crawl
I sometimes wish I had started with simpler things before taking on complex matters
Sometimes, I wish my eyes wasn't so red
There are moments where I wish my eyes looked more alert and less bloodshot
Sometimes, I wish I had breakfast in bed
At times, I desire to have breakfast served to me in bed
Sometimes, I mean it's worth it
Occasionally, the effort put into something is worth the outcome
Since I did all the work last night
Because I put all the work in last night
Sometimes, you ain't good to me, yes
There are times when you do not treat me well
I am good to you
However, I treat you well
And you don't see my attention the way that I do
You do not appreciate the effort I put into our relationship as much as I do
Sometimes, hey slim, you should be nicer than you are
At times, I believe you should be kinder than your current behavior suggests
Sometimes, you take that complaining shit way too far
Occasionally, the amount of complaints you make becomes excessive
I thought it was cute in the beginning but now
I was initially amused by it but now it is irritating
I think you only do it 'cause you know I hate it
I believe you continue doing it to annoy me
Sometimes, you got me wishing I didn't have home training
There are moments where I regret being raised with manners and politeness
Then it wouldn't hurt me so bad
In that case, I would not feel so hurt
With dreams of knocking you in your head
I imagine hitting you in the head in my dreams
Sometimes, wish I knew life with no pain, yeah
At times, I dream of living a painless life
Wish I held the keys to this game
I desire to have the knowledge and control over life's situations
Sometimes, I pretend 'cause I'm afraid to be, afriad to be
Occasionally, I pretend to be someone else because I am scared to show my true self
Sometimes, I hope I live to see twenty five
At times, I wish to see myself reach twenty-five years old
Sometimes, I wish I could be like Moses
Occasionally, I desire to be like Moses and lead people out of difficult situations
Round up my people, move out the ghetto
I want to gather the people from the ghetto and lead them out to a better life
And live a better life
I aspire to live a better life for myself and others
Sometimes, I wish I didn't try so hard
At times, I believe that I put too much effort into things
Sometimes, who knows truth any way
Occasionally, I doubt the existence of truth
They don't know nothing, who needs that approval
Others' opinions and approval are not needed when I know what I am doing
The sun in your hands player
You have the control and potential to achieve great things
Move at your own pace, listen to your own mind
You should work at your own speed and follow your own instincts
Do your own thing, yeah yeah
Live your life based on your own preferences and ideas
I'm saying it because I love ya
I'm telling you this because I care about you
And I want to grow with you, yeah yeah
I want to experience life and develop alongside you
But you want to run in the other direction
However, you would rather move away from my vision
So I got to stay on my path until I win
I need to continue on my own path until I succeed in my endeavors
I win, I win, I win
I aim to win in everything I do
I want to win, I want to win, I want to win, I want to win
Winning is my goal and I desire it greatly
Oh sometimes, sing it with me I wish
At times, I wish for something with conviction
(I wish in love) And I wish, oh I wish
I desire something out of love
(I wish in peace) Oh sometimes
Occasionally, I yearn for peace
(I wish in hope) I wish hope
I aspire for a hopeful future
(I wish true) I wish true
I desire for things to be true and genuine
(I wish clearly) Hey I wish so clearly sometimes
I have a clear vision of my desires at times
(Wish with no fear) I wish with no fear
I wish without fear or hesitation
(I have no fear) I have no fear
I am not afraid
(Have no doubt) I have no doubt
I have no doubts about my decisions or abilities
(I don't doubt) I don't doubt
I do not have any doubts
(Have no doubt) No, I don't doubt
I am completely certain
(Have no doubt, I wish love)
I am certain in my desire for love
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES JASON POYSER, BILAL OLIVER, AHMIR K THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
roderick coleman
ONE OF THE DOPEST, MOST UNDERATED , MOST UNDERAPPRECIATED LYRICAL PIECES IN MUSIC HISTORY !! I HAVE THIS ENTIRE ALBUM AND WILL FOREVER PLAY IT FOER THE YOUTH TO HEAR QUALITY NEO SOUL MUSIC!!
shortyrock67
No skips as the kids say lol
Tisha
Same!!
AerialAdebowale
ON EVERYTHINGGGGGGG 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
Patina Edochié
I agree this song you had to have had the album to be up on and it’s definitely underrated but classic!! Definitely one of my favs off the album that stayed on repeat!! 🔊🔊🔊🎶🔂💆🏽♀️👁️✨💯
Tommy Keith
I SECOND THAT ERRECTION!!!!(PAUZ) BILAL IZ THE BIZZNESS!!!!!!!!
JanWynd
QuestLove's drumming is so in-the-fuckin-pocket yet dynamic at the same damn time!!!! A rare and uncanny combination. Definitely a son of the Mother Continent...
John Parker
@410 🔥🔥🔥
Shay
This man is genius. the way he moves through the changes just genius.
Toni Johnson
This still goes hard in 2019, one of my favorite songs ever. Bilal's vocals are so underrated.